A closure for a pressurized container for use as a shooting target

ABSTRACT

A closure for a plastic drinks bottle or the like to form a shooting target. The closure includes a cap adapted to be screwed onto the neck of the bottle and a valve unit arranged to extend through the top of the cap. The valve unit includes a valve to retain air under pressure within the bottle and a radially extending flange that sits against the underside of the top of the cap to retain the valve unit to the cap.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based upon and claims priority to PCT Patent Application No. PCT/GB2016/053625 filed on 22 Nov. 2016, which is based upon and claims priority to GB Patent Application No. 1522626.9 filed on 22 Dec. 2015, and to GB Patent Application No. 1607618.4 filed on 3 May 2016; the collective disclosure of which being hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a closure for a container that can be pressurised for use as a shooting target.

Shooting targets used in sports such as archery, rifle shooting and the like, take various forms and shapes. Some are designed to produce an audible sound when struck.

One form of target comprises a disposable pressurised plastic bottle, e.g. a fizzy drinks bottle, and a purpose made closure. The closure comprises a larger opening that extends into the closure body from a first side and a smaller opening that extends from a second, opposing, side of the closure body. The two openings communicate to provide a through hole that extends between opposing sides of the closure. A valve member is threadingly engaged into the smaller opening that provides means for connection to a pump and regulates flow of air through the closure. The neck of the plastic bottle is screwed into the larger opening. The larger opening holds at its base a rubber gasket to form an air tight seal with the bottle. In use, a mount secured to the closure is arranged to support the bottle in a vertical orientation, neck pointing downwardly towards the floor. The closure enables the bottle to be pressurised with air to around 100 psi to generate, or at least give a sound akin to, a sonic boom when the bottle is pierced. Once struck, the remains of the bottle can be removed from the closure and a replacement plastic bottle screwed in to create a new target.

US2015/0337974 and US2015/0337975 disclose inflation valve caps having a resiliently flexible valve body arranged to sit at least partly within the opening of the cap. The valve body defines a passageway there through for receiving an inflation needle. A portion of the passageway is arranged to close to seal the passageway when the needle is withdrawn.

BRIEF SUMMARY

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a closure for a bottle for use as a shooting target. The closure may comprise:

a cap which may have an opening suitable for a neck of the bottle to be secured therein; and an end wall defining an aperture therethrough.

The closure may further include a valve unit adapted for connection to a supply of gas to pressurise the bottle when the closure is secured to the bottle. It may further comprise a valve to inhibit release of the gas from the bottle once the bottle is pressurised. The valve unit may further include a radially extending projection. The valve unit may be arranged to extend through the aperture in the end wall of the cap, favourably such that the connector and the valve sit on a first side of the end wall, and further favourably such that the radially extending projection sits on a second side of the end wall, optionally within the opening of the cap, to retain the valve unit to the cap.

The invention thereby provides a shooting target that can be manufactured more simply and cost effectively than existing designs.

In its simplest form, the cap is substantially identical to the moulded plastic screw mounted caps that seal plastic fizzy drinks bottles except provided with an aperture in the lid, and thus can be manufactured very cheaply. Suitable valve units include those commonly mounted to bicycle inner tubes. As such and in its simplest form, the closure of the invention can be formed from two readily available parts with only relatively minor further alteration.

Preferably the valve unit has a connector favourably arranged on a first side of the end wall.

The connector, which may simply be a free end of the valve member comprising an inlet for gas from the supply of gas, towards the valve, and valve preferably sit wholly on the first side of the end wall such that gas flowing from the outlet of the valve passes through the aperture in the end wall of the cap.

The supply of gas may, for example, derive from a pump or pressurised container. The connector preferably is arranged to allow a further connector associated with supply of gas to sit over the connector to open the valve. It is preferable that the valve comprises a valve member that sits and is moveable within a path for gas flow provided by valve unit to regulate flow of gas through the valve unit. To facilitate operation of the valve when valve unit is connected to the supply of gas, it is preferred that the valve member is adjacent the connector.

To inhibit passage of air from inside the pressurised bottle through the aperture, it is preferred that the projection forms a seal against the end wall. To facilitate this, it is preferred that the radially extending projection is comprised, and more preferably formed, from a resiliently flexible material, e.g. rubber or a synthetic plastics material. It is further preferable that the projection comprises a substantially continuously circumferential flange. In a preferred embodiment, the resiliently flexible flange is defined by a moulding formed over a stem element of the valve unit.

In a preferred embodiment, the closure further comprises a catch that allows relatively free passage of the valve unit through the aperture in a first direction but inhibits movement of the valve unit through the aperture in a second direction. This allows the closure to be easily assembled by passing the end of the valve unit that is distal to the projection into the opening and out through the aperture, drawing the valve member there-through until the projection abuts the end wall. However, once assembled, the catch inhibits the inserted valve unit being pulled out through the opening, and further preferably inhibits separation of the flange from the end wall.

Preferably the catch comprises a radially extending element, e.g. a collar, and further preferably the radially extending element is provided by the valve element arranged to engage with an outer wall of the cap. The radially extending element may be formed from the moulding used to form the radially extending projection.

It is preferred that the end wall comprises a reinforcing annulus around the periphery of the aperture to inhibit fracture of the end wall through pressure applied by the radially extending projection when the bottle is pressurised.

Due to the ubiquity of plastic drinks bottles with necks adapted for screw engagement with a cap, it is preferred that the cap is arranged to be screw mounted over a neck of the pressurisable bottle.

In order that the valve unit does not interfere with the threading of the neck of the bottle into the cap's opening, it is preferred that the outlet of the valve unit, and thus also the radially extending projection, sit within a space defined by the opening of the cap between the inward terminus of a thread defined by the cap about which the bottle neck is secured, and the end wall. Preferably the radially extending projection sits in a recess provided in the end wall.

In a preferable embodiment, the cap is comprised from a single integral piece of synthetic plastics material. The cap may in addition include a separate seal member used to provide a seal between the end wall and the projection.

It is preferred that the valve unit has a stem comprised from a relatively rigid material such as a metal, with a relatively flexible sheath e.g. provided by a resilient flexible rubber or synthetic plastics material that defines at least the radially extending projection and option the radially extending element.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a pressurised synthetic plastic bottle upon which is mounted a closure having one or more of the aforementioned features.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a closure for a bottle for use as a shooting target; the closure comprising:

a cap having an opening suitable for a neck of the bottle to be secured therein; and an end wall defining an aperture therethrough; and

a valve unit adapted for connection to a supply of gas to pressurise the bottle when the closure is secured to the bottle, and comprising a valve to inhibit release of the gas from the bottle once the bottle is pressurise; the valve having a valve member that sits and is moveable within a path for gas flow provided by valve unit to regulate flow of gas through the valve unit; and the valve unit further comprising a radially extending projection that sits within the opening of the cap to retain the valve unit to the cap.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying figures in which like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views, and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and to explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present disclosure, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a closure for a bottle;

FIG. 2 is a cross-section side view through the closure; and

FIG. 3 is a side view of the closure mounted to a bottle and to a pump connector in order to pressurise the bottle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As required, detailed embodiments are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples and that the devices and methods described herein can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one of ordinary skill in the art to variously employ the disclosed subject matter in virtually any appropriately detailed structure and function. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting, but rather, to provide an understandable description. Additionally, unless otherwise specifically expressed or clearly understood from the context of use, a term as used herein describes the singular and/or the plural of that term.

The terms “a” or “an”, as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term “plurality”, as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term “another”, as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and “having,” as used herein, are defined as comprising i.e., open language. The term “coupled,” as used herein, is defined as “connected,” although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically.

It will also be understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements can be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected” or “directly coupled” to another element, there are no intervening elements present.

Reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” of the present principles, as well as other variations thereof, means that a particular feature, structure, characteristic, and so forth described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present principles. Thus, the appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment”, as well any other variations, appearing in various places throughout the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 there is shown a closure 1 adapted to be mounted to the neck 4A of a plastic bottle 4 e.g. a fizzy drinks bottle or the like, to enable the bottle 4 to be pressurised with a gas and to retain said pressure so that the bottle 4 with closure when used as a shooting target provides an audible boom when struck.

The closure 1 is preferably formed as a two piece construction comprising a cap 2 and a valve unit 3.

The cap 2 defines an end wall 2A and continuous annular wall 2B within which is defined an opening 2C for receiving a neck 4A of the plastic bottle 4 (see FIG. 3). The end wall 2A defines an aperture 2D through which the valve unit 3 extends, and an integral eyelet 2E that protrudes from the upper face (from the perspective of the figures) of the end wall 2A to reinforce the aperture 2D.

The outer surface of the continuous annular wall 2B may be knurled to provide purchase during tightening/loosening of the cap 2 from the bottle neck 4A.

Towards the rim of the continuous annular wall 2B, the cap 1 defines two spaced circumferential walls 2F that provide means for keying and thereby supporting the shooting target within a slot provided by a stand (not shown). The stand may allow the shooting target to the supported in a vertical orientation with closure either upward most or downward most.

The inside surface of the continuous annular wall 2B defines a screw thread 2G arranged to engage with a cooperating screw thread 4B of the bottle neck 4A. The cap 2 including the end wall 2A, continuous annular wall 2B and thread 2G are formed from a single integral piece of moulded synthetic plastics material.

The valve unit 3 comprises an elongate stem 3A that defines a path for air, or other gas through the closure. The stem 3A defines an inlet 3B at a first end and an outlet 3C at a second end. A spring biased valve member 3D is mounted within the stem 3A to regulate flow of air through the stem 3A. The valve member 3D is positioned proximate to and is accessible via the inlet 3B in order that it may be moved into an open position by insertion of a pin or an actuating element 8A of a pump connector 8 through inlet 3B to allow air to flow from the inlet 3B to the outlet 3C and thence into the bottle 4. When the pin is withdrawn, the valve member 3D moves under bias to a closed position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. A portion of the outer wall of the stem at the first end, adjacent to the inlet 3A is provided with a thread 3F for engagement with a dust cap 3G and/or a pump connector 8(described further below).

The stem 3A, which is typically constructed from a metal, e.g. brass, carries an outer rubber (or synthetic plastics) moulding 5 that defines a continuous flange 6 that is wider than the aperture 2D which when the closure is assembled, abuts the inside surface of the end wall 2A to form an airtight seal there-against. When the closure 1 is mounted to a pressurised bottled 4, the flange 6 is forced against the end wall 2A reinforcing said seal and simultaneously preventing the valve unit 3 from separating from the cap 2 by passing through the aperture 2D.

The flexible moulding 5 also defines a circumferential radial collar 7 having a laterally facing surface 7C that faces towards the outlet 3C and which tapers towards the inlet 3B. This wedge shape, as viewed in cross section, in combination with the resilient flexibility of the material in which it is formed, allows the projection 7 to flex radially inwards to allow it to be passed through aperture 2D from the opening 2C, and once through, to flex out leaving lateral facing surface 7C facing and optionally engaged against the reinforcing eyelet 2E to inhibit the valve unit 3 from being drawn back through the aperture 2D in the opposite direction.

In use, a neck 4A of a plastic bottle 4 or the like into which a powder may optionally be added beforehand, is threadedly engaged into the opening 2C of the cap 2. The rim of the neck 4A, once thread onto the cap 2, may press against the exposed side of collar 6 to form an airtight seal. The thread interconnect between the annular 2B of cap 2 and the neck 4A may likewise form a seal.

The bottle 4 used may be of any size though 1-3 litre bottles are considered particularly suitable and are readily available.

A pump connector 8 is mounted over the free end of the valve unit 3 in order that an actuating element, shown schematically at 8A, of the connector 8 passes through the inlet 3B to push the valve member 3D to an open position, whereupon air may be pumped into the bottle 4 from a pump (not shown) via the connector. Once pressurised to the desired extent, e.g. for example 100 psi, the connector 8 is removed whereupon the valve member 3D, under bias, moves to the closed position to retain the pressurised air within the bottle 4. The closure 1 with bottle 4 thus provides a shooting target that when struck will generate a boom and, if provided with powder, will also form a powder cloud to provide a visual indication that the bottle has been struck.

Once struck, the remains of the exploded bottle 4 can be unthreaded from the closure 1 to allow a replacement bottle to be used to form a new target.

The closure may define a different form of projection for supporting the shooting target to a stand, for example, the cap may only have a single wall, define a recess and/or may only extend around part of the circumference of the annular wall 2B

The cap opening 2A is sized with a diameter of about 25-28 mm in order to render the closure suitable for use with the most common sized fizzy drinks bottles. Nevertheless, it will be appreciated that the dimensions of the cap may be altered to suit a bottle of any preferred size.

The thread 3F is optional; the pump connector 8 may be held over the first end by other means, such as for example, a friction or compression fit.

The Abstract is provided with the understanding that it is not intended be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, various features are grouped together in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description herein has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the examples in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of the examples presented or claimed. The disclosed embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the embodiments and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the appended claims below cover any and all such applications, modifications, and variations within the scope of the embodiments.

Although specific embodiments of the subject matter have been disclosed, those having ordinary skill in the art will understand that changes can be made to the specific embodiments without departing from the scope of the disclosed subject matter. The scope of the disclosure is not to be restricted, therefore, to the specific embodiments, and it is intended that the appended claims cover any and all such applications, modifications, and embodiments within the scope of the present disclosure. 

1-21. (canceled)
 22. A closure for a bottle for use as a shooting target; the closure comprising: a cap having an opening suitable for a neck of the bottle to be secured therein; an end wall defining an aperture therethrough; and a valve unit adapted for connection to a supply of gas to pressurise the bottle when the closure is secured to the bottle, a valve to inhibit release of the gas from the bottle once the bottle is pressurised, and a radially extending projection; and wherein the valve unit is arranged to extend through the aperture in the end wall of the cap such that the valve sits on a first side of the end wall, and the radially extending projection sits on a second side of the end wall within the opening of the cap to retain the valve unit to the cap.
 23. A closure according to claim 22 wherein the radially extending projection forms a seal against the end wall.
 24. A closure according to claim 22 wherein the radially extending projection is comprised from a resiliently flexible material.
 25. A closure according to claim 22 wherein the radially extending projection comprises a substantially continuously circumferential flange that sits within the opening of the cap to retain the valve unit to the cap.
 26. A closure according to claim 22 wherein the valve sits on the first side of the end wall such that during pressurisation of the bottle, gas flow through the valve unit, downstream of the valve, passes through the aperture in the end wall of the cap and into the bottle.
 27. A closure according claim 22 wherein the valve comprises a valve member that sits and is moveable within a path for gas flow provided by valve unit to regulate flow of gas through the valve unit.
 28. A closure according to claim 22 wherein an outlet of the valve unit sits within the aperture.
 29. A closure according to claim 22 further comprising a catch that allows relatively free passage of the valve unit through the aperture in a first direction but inhibits movement of the valve unit through the aperture in a second direction.
 30. A closure according to claim 29 wherein the catch comprises a collar.
 31. A closure according to claim 22 wherein an outer wall of the cap defines a mounting projection for securing the shooting target to a mount.
 32. A closure according to claim 31 wherein the mount comprises two spaced apart radial projections.
 33. A closure according to claim 22 wherein the end wall comprises a strengthening annulus around the periphery of the aperture.
 34. A closure according to claim 22 wherein the cap is arranged to be screw mounted over a neck of the bottle.
 35. A closure according to claim 22 wherein the cap is comprised from a single integral piece of synthetic plastics material.
 36. A shooting target comprising a pressurised synthetic plastics bottle upon which is mounted a closure according to claim
 22. 37. A closure for a bottle for use as a shooting target; the closure comprising: a cap having an opening suitable for a neck of the bottle to be secured therein; and an end wall defining an aperture therethrough; and a valve unit adapted for connection to a supply of gas to pressurise the bottle when the closure is secured to the bottle, and comprising a valve to inhibit release of the gas from the bottle once the bottle is pressurise; the valve having a valve member that sits and is moveable within a path for gas flow provided by valve unit to regulate flow of gas through the valve unit; and the valve unit further comprising a radially extending projection that sits within the opening of the cap to retain the valve unit to the cap.
 38. A closure according to claim 37 wherein the valve unit extends through the aperture.
 39. A closure according to claim 37 wherein the radially extending projection forms a seal against end wall.
 40. A closure according to claim 39 wherein the radially extending projection is comprised from a resiliently flexible material.
 41. A closure according to claim 37 comprising a substantially continuously circumferential flange that sits within the opening of the cap to retain the valve element to the cap. 